Dahlia plant named `Arizona Red`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named `Arizona Red`, characterized by its numerous double inflorescences that are about 6.6 cm in diameter; bright red ray florets; compact, uniform and mounded growth habit; small dark green leaves; and strong peduncles that hold inflorescences just above the foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Arizona Red`.

The new Dahlia is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Dahlia variabilis cultivar `Arizona`, co-pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/233,131. The new Dahlia was discovered by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands, within a population of plants of `Arizona`. The selection of this plant was based on its unique ray floret color.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia by terminal cuttings harvested in Hillegom, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Dahlia has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of `Arizona Red`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `Arizona Red` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Numerous double inflorescences that are about 6.6 cm in diameter.

2. Bright red ray florets.

3. Compact, uniform and mounded growth habit.

4. Small dark green leaves.

5. Strong peduncles that hold inflorescences just above the foliage.

Compared to plants of the parent cultivar, `Arizona`, plants of the new Dahlia have bright red ray florets whereas plants of the cultivar `Arizona` have reddish orange ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of the new Dahlia. Ray floret and foliage colors may appear different from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in De Lier, The Netherlands, in 12-cm containers in a glass greenhouse with average day and night temperatures of 22 and 18° C., respectively.

Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis `Arizona Red`.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Dahlia variabilis cultivar `Arizona`, co-pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/233,131.

Propagation:

Type--By terminal cuttings or by tissue culture.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer: About 5 days at 22° C. Winter: About 8 days at 20° C.

Time to develop roots.--Summer: About 12 days at 22° C. Winter: About 16 days at 20° C.

Rooting habit.--Easily propagated: roots fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Typically grown as flowering potted plants. Compact, uniform and mounded growth habit; rounded plant apex. Moderate growth rate and moderately vigorous. Appropriate for 10 to 12.5-cm containers. Plants typically flower about 8 weeks after planting rooted cuttings. Freely basally branching, however, plants typically require pinching to enhance lateral branch development.

Plant height.--About 20 cm.

Plant spread.--About 24 cm.

Stem description.--Lateral branch diameter: About 1.3 cm. Internode length: About 3.7 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 144A.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Young foliage, leaves single; fully expanded foliage, leaves compound, trifoliate; opposite. Leaf length: About 11.4 cm. Leaf width: About 10.1 cm. Terminal leaflet length: About 8 cm. Terminal leaflet width: About 4.6 cm. Leaflet shape: Ovate. Leaflet apex: Acute. Leaflet base: Attenuate. Leaflet margin: Serrate to dentate. Leaflet texture: Glossy, glabrous. Petiole length: About 4.4 cm. Color: Young leaflets, upper surface: Greener and darker than 147A. Young leaflets, lower surface: 147B. Mature leaflets, upper surface: Darker than 147A. Mature leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B. Petiole: 144A to 147B.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Double inflorescence form. Inflorescences generally hemispherical and borne on terminals above foliage, arising from leaf axils on strong peduncles; inflorescences just above the foliage. Inflorescences face upright and outward. Very freely flowering, typically about 21 inflorescences per plant. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences are not fragrant.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plants flower intermittently from late spring through fall.

Flower longevity.--Flowers last about one to two weeks on the plant.

Flower bud.--Shape: Spherical. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Color: 143A to 144A.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: About 6.6 cm. Depth (height): About 1.8 cm. Disc floret diameter: About 7 mm; conspicuous only on fully opened inflorescences.

Ray florets.--Quantity per inflorescence: About 71. Shape: Broadly elliptic. Orientation: Initially upright to horizontal; cupped. Length: About 2.8 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Apex: Acute to incised. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety, smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: 46A. When opening, lower surface: 46B. Fully opened, upper surface: 45A. Fully opened, lower surface: 42A to 42B with 4C longitudinal veins.

Disc florets.--Quantity per inflorescence: Few, about 14. Shape: Tubular. Orientation: Upright. Length: About 1 cm. Width: Apex: About 3 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Apex: Dentate. Color: Apex: 17A. Mid-section: 9A. Base: Light green.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Upright and strong. Length: About 8.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 144A.

Involucral bracts.--Shape: Oblong to linear. Tip: Acute to rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture: Waxy. Color: 144A to 144B to 145A.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: (Present on disc florets). Anther color: 9A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium present on ray and disc florets.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Dahlia diseases has not been observed on plants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named `Arizona Red`, as illustrated and described. 